Associate Professor of Molecular and immunological exploration of viral pathogenesis and host cell responses (Fixed-Term, 5 Years)

Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen

The University seeks to appoint an associate professor to the Department of Immunology and Microbiology to commence 1 May 2025 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Information on the Department can be found at: https://sund.ku.dk/

Job description
Virally induced pathogenesis poses a serious challenge to global public health. Development of treatments and cures of major epidemic viruses require seamless integration of robust cell culture systems and in vivo models, which allow in vitro and in vivo characterization of inhibitor molecules, test of vaccine concepts, characterization of viral evolution response under drug and immune restriction and evaluation of treatment effects on virus-induced immune exhaustion. This Associate Professorship within Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP) will pursue development of novel in vitro and in vivo systems as well as refinement of existing systems that enable in vitro virus characterization and application of animal models ideally suited for further exploration of in vitro derived observations including immune cell function.
Additionally, significant efforts should be directed at establishing variants of clinically significant viruses retaining a high degree of genetic stability and robust replication across platforms that enable comparative studies of intervention strategies in vitro and in vivo. As part of the research program, significant efforts should also be directed at development of vaccine concepts using cutting edge technologies for induction of robust and lasting cellular and humoral immune response. Herein strategies based on studies of immune response during natural infection should be integrated into vaccine concept development. Additionally, research into DNA editing strategies for ablation of endogenous viral genome sequences should be explored in vitro and in vivo to mitigate the paucity of effective treatment of clinically significant viral infections associated with incorporation of viral sequences in host cells. The research effort should further seek to develop new purpose differentiated host cells enabling culture of clinically significant virus in organotypic cells that facilitate identification of host factors that may constitute targets of future intervention strategies. Research into infection induced changes in host cell transcriptomics in situ should be a major focus to establish a clear understanding of the effect of viral infections on host target tissue gene expression including microRNA and innate immune system transcripts. Finally, to explore the viral life cycle in greater detail, efforts should be directed towards development of techniques to track and monitor virus genome trafficking in subcellular compartments using RNA and DNA binding fluorophores.

The associate professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:
• Research, including publication/academic dissemination
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate
• Academic assessments

Required qualifications
To be qualified for an associate professor position, you will be assessed according to these six overall criteria for recognizing merit at the University of Copenhagen: Research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding, and leadership.
Find information about each criterion.

Furthermore, each applicant must be able to document:
• Research qualifications at the level that can be achieved by satisfactorily completing a period of employment as an assistant professor/postdoc, but may also be obtained in other ways
• Teaching qualifications and pedagogical competencies
• Research-based teaching

The associate professor is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.

Terms of employment
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 5 years.
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information, please contact Professor Jens Bukh, jbukh@sund.ku.dk
Foreign applicants may find the university’s International Staff Mobility useful.
 

Application
The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:
• Application (Including motivations for applying for the position (maximum 2 pages))
• Curriculum vitae (Including information about external funding)
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3-5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 5 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines)

Application procedure
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at the university's Job Portal.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.
The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, 5 January 2025.

Interviews for this position are likely to be held from week 12.